United Nations Humanitarian Civil-Military course concludes onboard Mercy

Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class Cameron Pinske | 180410-N-MD713-0034 BENGKULU, Indonesia (April 10, 2018) Sailors aboard Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) and Indonesian medical personnel participate in subject matter expert exchange drills as a part of Mercy’s first mission stop of Pacific Partnership 2018 (PP18). PP18’s mission is to work collectively with host and partner nations to enhance regional interoperability and disaster response capabilities, increase stability and security in the region, and foster new and enduring friendships across the Indo-Pacific Region. Pacific Partnership, now in its 13th iteration, is the largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Cameron Pinske/Released  

INDONESIA

04.10.2018

Courtesy Story

Commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific

BENGKULU, Province of Indonesia - The United Nations Humanitarian Civil-Military Coordination (UN-CMCoord) course for the Asia and Pacific concluded onboard Military Sealift hospital ship, USNS Mercy (T- AH 19) 10 April. The course, organized by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) with support from the United States Pacific Fleet had previously never been held aboard a naval ship.

Mercy arrived in Indonesia in support of Pacific Partnership 2018 (PP18), March 29. PP18 is scheduled to have more than 800 U.S. military personnel stationed worldwide as well as representatives from over XX nations. Working side-by-side with host nation counterparts, the mission aims to assist partner nations in preparing for potential humanitarian aid and disaster response situations.

Participants of the course come from national disaster management authorities, military, civil defense and police organizations, Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, NGOs and UN agencies.

Militaries are usually deployed when there is a disaster, and can positively contribute to humanitarian action due to their ability to rapidly mobilize and deploy assets. However, the presence of militaries during a humanitarian response can cause tensions with humanitarian organizations on the ground, and display unique challenges for both the military and civilian actors.

In light of this, the UN-CMCoord course aims to promote effective civil-military interactions in humanitarian disasters by increasing participants’ understanding of UN-CMCoord standards and principles. This is crucial to strengthening future disasters response, and safeguarding humanitarian
principles and the humanitarian operating space.

“Following a natural disaster, national militaries in the Asia-Pacific region are often the first responders,” said Captain Mike Smith. “It is therefore crucial that we seek to strengthen civil-military coordination to assist nation states prepare and to deliver effective disaster response operations when disasters strike. The opportunity to host the UN-CMCoord course onboard is an important part of this work.”

“Given the role that militaries play in the region, it is vital that humanitarians understand how military assets can support them to get much-needed aid to affected communities quickly and at scale. At the same time, it is important that the military understands how the Humanitarian eco-system works so that military support can be coordinated in a way that delivers the optimum impact.”

Pacific Partnership began in response to the December 2004 tsunami that devastated parts of Southeast Asia. Along with other nations, the United States deployed U.S. Navy assets, including Mercy, which later returned to the region in 2006 for the first Pacific Partnership mission. PP18 is the largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HA/DR) preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific. PP18’s objective is to enhance regional coordination in areas such as medical readiness and preparedness for man-made and natural disasters.

Mercy, homeported in San Diego, California is 894 feet long and is outfitted to provide mobile acute and surgical medical services in disaster or humanitarian relief efforts. Hospital capabilities include a wide range of life-saving surgical procedures and blood bank services to diagnostic x-ray or laboratory services. The team of medical professionals include doctors, nurses, technicians and support staff who provide the full spectrum of care in surgical specialties, internal medicine, radiology, dental prosthetics and eye health among many others.

• Date Taken: 04.10.2018
• Date Posted: 04.18.2018 21:51
• Story ID: 273605
• Location: ID